Bearing down the barrel

A week is a long time in football.

And in writing a blog too apparently.

I have a few items of business that I have to get out of the way first so I'll get that done. Firstly the place where I stayed this week 'The Big Blue House' was super cool. The family that runs it helped me out a lot and were really nice so if your ever in Tucson definately look at staying there.

Secondly there have been some questions surrounding a photo of me with some LA Clippers cheerleaders. I'm not 7 foot 5 its just that they were 5 foot nothing and pretty hot.

Ok so I suppose its best to start with where I am now. I moved into my dorm room last night in the Apache building on campus. I have met my room mate and my neighbours and they seem like good blokes. I have also met a bunch of the international students and I am pleased to say that there some other Aussies and some UK lads so the Commonwealth is well represented. I am definately hoping to get something together for Australia day. Rumor has it that one of them brought a set of stumps a bat and a ball, so hopefully we can play some cricket.

There is an interesting dichotomy or perhaps trichotomy (if that's a word) in the age groupings. I am currently 20 years and 4 months give or take. In the dorms most guys are 18 or 19 which is fine, maybe I can carve out a niche as the wise old Australian guy who knows all. However with the international guys as far as I know I am the second or third youngest out of quite a large group. Most of the guys are 22, 23, 24. Again this is fine maybe I can carve out a niche as the cheeky but lovable Australian guy who is never short on whit. Finally there is the basketball team, who so far have been a great bunch of blokes, who range anywhere from 18 to 24. I just want to be a good team mate and hopefully a good enough aquisition so other Australian's can follow in my foot steps or tyre tracks as is the case. That is what is most important to me.
I should point out though that others have done it before, but I figuire that every person that does it successfully makes it a little easier for the person behind them.

I have spent a large part of this week hanging out with some of the internationals, having a look around town and there may have been a social event or two.

The thing about Tucson is that it definately seems like a university town and by that I mean that it kicks ass around the uni but other than that there is not much to do except for outdoor activities or as one shop attendant pointed out 'Tuscon is a great place to blow shit up'. Cool. Thanks man.

I spent a few hours everyday last week practicing with the team. We train five times a week 2.5 hours a day and do two weights sessions a week, so that should offset the addiction to cheeseburgers and mexican food I am developing. A big thanks to Drew who drove me around all week, it was seriously appreciated and was an example of one of the things I love about team sport, you help each other out where you can, it doesn't matter if you've been there five minutes or five years. Whether its a cricket club, basketball club, footy club or in fact any club or society the good ones all have that aspect to them, which is something I cherish. Well maybe Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band doesn't do it, because they seem to about being on their own but you get my point. If anyone who reads this did first year Euro Studies with me you'll know what I mean when I say this is an example of Social Capital. It kicks ass.

Training has involved most fittness stuff which I hate because most people are faster than I am and I hate being down the back. I love it because when your last there is nothing more fun than picking off the bastard in front of you (not that they're bastards, like I said, good blokes). My hands got cut up circa 2006 (those of you who were there in Brissy will remember) and they hurt like hell. But as AC/DC once said 'Hell ain't a bad place to be'. I wouldn't be anywhere else right now.

We've had to sing the University of Arizona fight song a few times which contains the University Slogan of 'Bear Down' I'm pretty sure it means something like 'suck eggs' or 'toughen up' or 'put your head down and get on with it', something like that. A version of it can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LoZwNxR9kw

We played against a couple of NWBA teams on the weekend and I think I did ok so that's good.

Apparently I live in one of the more basic dorms, one of the buildings that has yet to be refurbished. It looks fine to me. Apparently it is one of the more social ones too which makes life more interesting I think. Sometimes you just have to put the silver spoon in your back pocket... not that I whip it out very often, at least I hope I don't.

I also had my first Wallmart experience. Meh, its a store with lots of stuff in it. It didn't exactly melt my face off like some people said it would.

It got me thinking though, what happened to Fossey's? Does anyone remember Fossey's and its 'friendly feelings' maybe it was a Melbourne thing.

Anyway the guys next door have challanged me to some FIFA 09. Which is fair enough after I was talking myself up. I love FIFA, I don't always love my mouth so much.

ctb.